Carl White’s syndicated column features stories about his journey as a TV producer and host. Carl says “I am writing about the people I meet as I travel and the interesting places visited. They do not all end up on TV, but a lot do and everyone becomes a friends. It's a wonderful journey”

Awards and Honors

2017 Publication Award for newspaper articles entitled:From Under the Water to the White House; A Love Story with a few Good Twists and Turns; Black Walnuts, White Squirrels and a Bucket List; Coffee and a Good Life; Some Observations about Daniel Boone; Three Presidents and a PossibilityTHE NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF HISTORIANS

Who do you call when you need to know what vegetables or flowers will grow where you live? If you come from a family of home gardeners or farmers, chances are you already have a good idea of what works for you. If you do not fall into this category a call to your local Cooperative Extension office can set you on the path of great discovery.

Rain has a way of changing things. Not so long ago, as soon as the strawberries were ready for harvest, I visited one of our strawberry farmers in the Upstate. They were fresh out of the field, full of sweet flavor and it was hard to stop eating them. A few weeks later I was craving the taste of those beautiful red berries. I stopped in to visit another farmer, purchased a gallon and noticed they looked a little different.

Like people, the personalities of mules and donkeys differ and offer up a variety of expressions and behaviors that once you get to know them you will find it difficult to not think about them. I enjoy having dogs in my life, however for the most part donkeys do not feel the same way.

How do you eat a mile-long hot dog? One foot at a time or at least that’s how Linda Green approaches the process. Linda Green stopped in at the Igloo shop in Millers Creek NC to pick up her order. Linda likes her hotdog all the way which includes a split grilled hotdog on a toasted bun with mustard, Chili, onions, and slaw. Linda is a loyal customer who has been getting her hot dog, and ice cream fix at the Igloo for the past 40 years.

I was sitting at a diner not long ago, and I happened to be in earshot of the short order cook. When the waitress went to pick up a plate, the cook said, “that’s a sloppy one, that’s the way I like them, and that’s the way to make them for the people.” At first, I replayed in my mind what I thought I heard and when I saw the waitress coming around the corner, I realized he was talking about the foot-long hot dog covered with chili, slaw, and onions on a plate with fries. This hot dog was for sure a multi-napkin dog.

I am sure you have noticed that the end of the year offers up what seems to be an excellent opportunity of increased stress and depression, which seems odd as the Holiday Season and Christmas should be a time of joy and delight. It’s a colorful time of the year, and many people extend happy greetings and a few gifts. Reflections are made, and hopes are spoken of, for the New Year. When we consider the fact that stress is one of the worst offenders of good health and happiness, maybe we should reconsider how and why we allow so many things to get our goat...

In my numerous travels in the Carolinas, I have met many people with four-legged family members. I have gotten to know many of them and when I revisit or call it is common for me to ask of about their wellbeing. Larry and Ginny in Murrells Inlet share their home with two Jack Russell Terrier’s Winston Churchill and Margaret “Maggie” Thatcher. Sometimes more are in residence. During my visits, I have witnessed the value and love shared with their four-legged housemates that can best be described as a family...

There are times it’s good to sit at home and think about all the wonders of life and then there are times to venture out for a good show at a local theater. We have many options and opportunities for supporting the performing arts in our various communities in the Carolinas. The more intimate venues offer a good helping of something many of us not only enjoy but crave, and that would be a great scene of nostalgia. Many of our historic buildings have been saved from neglect and given a new life as a place where people gather to celebrate life events and the performing arts...

I have visited with many veterans through the years, and the diversity of stories and reflections remain exciting and thought-provoking. There are often common threads of brotherhood, patriotism, love of country and the American flag. Based on my interviews and understandably so, some are easy to talk about, and some are not.

One of the many benefits of being in the Carolinas is the beauty of the four seasons, which provides constant change for our drives. I was recently on such a road while on the way for an interview with Air Force veteran Bud Byers. As we would say, Bud lives out in the country. I was enjoying the drive and all the sudden as I was coming out of modest curve I saw what can best be described as an impressive Veterans Flag memorial garden. Situated in the gentle arc of the road, as if the road was placed perfectly to allow drivers to get an effortless view.

I enjoy my visits to the barbershop for a variety of reasons. The more practical reason is to get a good haircut, but if you limit your experience to the utilitarian purpose of walking away with shorter hair, you will surely miss out on a treasure trove of cultural edification awaiting. In other words, hold onto your hat, things might just get a little hairy.

Coffee house visits are among some of my favorite because that’s where the interesting people go. I realize for some it is only about a caffeine fix but for most people a coffee house is a gathering place, a place to meet and make friends. If you have access to a good coffee house there is no reason to be lonely, there is always someone willing and in many cases eager to chat.

When I started out for my third visit to the Island of Ocracoke, I remembered a friend telling me he enjoyed taking the Swan Quarter Ferry because he had less drive time and more time to relax or do a bit of writing on the ride over. I normally enjoy taking the longer way, especially when the opportunity to see something new is around the corner. Today was different. I was traveling solo and the idea of having a driver for a few hours appealed to me.

I received an email from Susan Yarber, wishing me Happy National Walnut Day. She knows that I enjoy walnuts, I keep them around all the time. They are reported to be one of the better nuts to eat as they have compounds that may be good for our brain. Plus, I just like the way they taste.

It was to be a full moon night when I arrived on the Island, I had checked into The Cove Bed and Breakfast, as is my normal habit when researching for another Island story.

Sharon is the Inn Keeper and has a good feel for everything happening on Ocracoke. I ask if there were anything interesting going on that night and see said, well Amy is doing the Ghost Tour that blends in a lot of the Island history. An historic ghost tour on a full moon night sounded perfect. Sharon made the call and I was added to the list.

I like brunch because it’s a mid-morning activity, you don’t have to get up early and you don’t have to wait too long to enjoy it. It’s often, but not always with friends or family and you can have anything you want with your eggs.

One of the things I love about the Carolinas is the rich diversity of stuff to do and places to go. I like the places that offer us, travelers, the opportunity to walk in the steps of history, enjoy nature, adventure and wonderful Southern Hospitality.

It’s peach season and I recently took a drive up the Brushy Mountains in search of the delightful donut peach which is an early peach with white flesh and when ripe sweeter than most other peaches, it’s somewhat flat and not as large as most commercial varieties. They are a special treat during peach season.

This story started with a simple question from Ken. “Do you know the history of the blackberry cobbler?” When asked, I had to stop and think for a moment. I knew I liked blackberry cobbler because over the years I have eaten a lot of it. I recalled that my grandmother made a great cobbler from wild blackberries; however, I had to admit I not did know the real history of the cobbler. Without hesitation, I committed to learning about and sharing my findings.